Caltech’s new president Ray Jayawardhana takes over amid JPL troubles, Trump probe

Key Points:

• Ray Jayawardhana, an astrophysicist specializing in distant planets and alien life, was installed as Caltech’s 10th president, becoming the first astronomer and first South Asian American to lead the institute.
• Caltech faces significant challenges, including NASA’s decision to open the management contract of its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to outside competition for the first time since 1958, with a decision expected in early 2028.
• The institute is also under investigation by the Labor Department for potential fraud related to J-1 visas used to bring in international scholars, with Caltech having received an administrative subpoena.
• Jayawardhana emphasized the need for Caltech to adapt amid shifts in AI, federal policy, and global events, while defending the value of the partnership between research universities and the federal government.
• Despite challenges, Caltech remains optimistic with recent donor commitments of $73 million, ongoing major NASA projects like the Roman Space Telescope, and a strong commitment to merit-based diversity and scientific research.